Miami's Martin leaves team after 'emotional breakdown'

[Mr. Laz]

Jonathan Martin leaves Dolphins after 'breakdown'

By Dan Hanzus
Around the League Writer
Published: Oct. 30, 2013 at 06:39 p.m. Updated: Oct. 30, 2013 at 07:00 p.m.
An unusual situation is unfolding in Miami, where Dolphins right tackle Jonathan Martin has left the team after suffering an "emotional breakdown" this week.

NFL Media's Jeff Darlington reported Wednesday that Martin is currently seeking help with his family after an incident at the team's cafeteria, according to team sources.

Martin is listed on the team's injury report with an illness, and is doubtful to play Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fox NFL insider Jay Glazer reported that Martin was the victim of a prank at the cafeteria, becoming enraged enough to "smash his food tray on the ground."

The second-year pro has not been with the team since that time. Darlington reports that Martin immediately sought treatment at a local hospital. He has since left the hospital and is now spending time with his family, according to team sources.

Martin opened the season as the Dolphins' replacement for Jake Long at left tackle. He was moved to right tackle when the team acquired Bryant McKinnie via trade last week. Tyson Clabo is expected to start in Martin's place on Thursday.

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[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by kstater

Full report:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/ac...0-14072021.pdf

In a nutshell:

Executive Summary

1.
Martin Was Subjected to Persistent Harassing Language
...........................

2.
The Harassment Humiliated Martin and Contributed to His Mental Health Issues
................................

3.
The Mistreatment of Martin Is Consistent with a Case of Workplace Bullying
................................

4.
Incognito, Jerry and Pouncey Harassed Other Dolphins Personnel
..........

5.
Repeated Acts of Harassment Contributed to Martin’s Departure
............

6.
Martin Did Not Fabricate His Allegations of Harassment
........................

7.
The Extent to Which the Abuse Resulted from Racial Animus Is Unclear
................................

8.
The Culture of the Dolphins Offensive Line Does Not Excuse the Mistreatment of Martin
................................

9.
Martin’s Friendship with Incognito Does Not Excuse the Abuse
.............

10.
Martin Never Reported the Abuse to the Dolphins Organization
.............

11.
The Fine Book Shows that Incognito Knew that the Harassment Affected Martin
................................

12.
No Malicious Physical Attack of Martin Occurred at a 2012 Christmas Party
................................

13.
Coach Philbin and the Front Office Did Not Know About the Harassment
................................

14.
The Verbal Abuse Was Contrary to Team Policies
................................

15.
The Dolphins’ Plans To Improve the Team’s Workplace Conduct Policies Are Commendable
................................

Here is the conclusion of the report:

140
Conclusion
As all must surely recognize, the NFL is not an ordinary workplace. Professional football is a rough, contact sport played by men of exceptional size, speed, strength and athleticism. But even the largest, strongest and fleetest person may be driven to despair by bullying, taunting and constant insults. We encourage the creation of new workplace conduct rules and guidelines that will help ensure that players respect each other as professionals and people.

I think fourth graders wrote this report.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by blaise

Do we know that the Dolphins were aware he was suicidal?

If Martin actually made those comments, it looks bad on the Dolphins either way. Either they knew and ignored it and actually encouraged toughening him hp, or they didn't know when they should have or when somebody should have spoken up.

[KC_Connection]

This thing looks like a bigger joke than the Mitchell Report.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

If Martin actually made those comments, it looks bad on the Dolphins either way. Either they knew and ignored it and actually encouraged toughening him hp, or they didn't know when they should have or when somebody should have spoken up.

Think it's enough for Martin to get what he wants and sue the Dolphins?

[blaise]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

If Martin actually made those comments, it looks bad on the Dolphins either way. Either they knew and ignored it and actually encouraged toughening him hp, or they didn't know when they should have or when somebody should have spoken up.

I don't know that that's a fair standard. Plenty of employers don't know if an employee is suicidal.

[kstater]

Incognito's done in the NFL

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by kstater

Incognito's done in the NFL

Chiefs could use him.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Chiefs could use him.

I don't consider myself a bleeding heart whatever you want to call it, but IMO no team needs that type of personality in the locker room.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

I don't consider myself a bleeding heart whatever you want to call it, but IMO no team needs that type of personality in the locker room.

Hate to break it to you (and not saying it's a good thing either), but his type of personality isn't exactly uncommon in the NFL.

[kstater]

POS

Player B: Yes. That’s a solid optic made specifically for a .308 battle rifle
Incognito: Perfect for shooting black people

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by kstater

POS

fa·ce·tious adjective \fə-ˈsē-shəs\
—used to describe speech that is meant to be funny but that is usually regarded as annoying, silly, or not proper

[NewChief]

Briefly read through the report, and I agree that it's pretty classic bullying. I also read all the text exchanges between Incognito and Martin a while back. Even then, I'd say it was bullying. Was Martin partially to blame? Hell yeah, he was... but that's VERY OFTEN the case with "bullying." It's a pretty common occurrence that the bullies don't realize the level of hurt/harm they're inflicting on the "victim," often thinking that it's just in good fun.

It's a really, really hard to define line. As someone who works with teenage boys in an environment where I can be help legally at fault for allowing bullying to take place, I constantly have to deal with this. With boys, especially, it's hard for me to tell when they're just giving each other shit and when it's become mean spirited and hurtful toward one of the parties. The kid being "bullied" usually seems to be playing along and even enjoying the exchange on the surface.

If bullying was always obvious and easy to see, then it wouldn't be nearly as common, because everyone would recognize it as aberrant behavior. It's usually much, much more subtle and hard to define than we envision.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Hate to break it to you (and not saying it's a good thing either), but his type of personality isn't exactly uncommon in the NFL.

In your extensive knowledge of the inner workings of NFL locker rooms, have you noticed it to be common for white players to call black players ****er in a demeaning tone? What about calling another player's sister a squirter while mocking having sex with her?

Off color jokes are fine in a locker room setting, but a lot of what I've read so far in this report is taking it too far. The fact that Incognito and the others only acted this way to people they knew wouldn't react violently, just makes them bigger pieces of shit.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

In a nutshell:



Here is the conclusion of the report:





I think fourth graders wrote this report.

so in summary, the NFL knew nothing about this. The NFL team and the NFL management of that team knew nothing about this. It is all on the player. nobody affiliated in any way with the NFL management or any NFL team has any responsibility at all. That was a good thorough report by the NFL management team.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

In your extensive knowledge of the inner workings of NFL locker rooms, have you noticed it to be common for white players to call black players ****er in a demeaning tone? What about calling another player's sister a squirter while mocking having sex with her?

It's exactly the kind of casual racism and homophobia that makes anonymous GMs say guys like Michael Sam can't play in the NFL due to its macho culture, yes. I still haven't seen anything that would make me believe Incognito or the Dolphins are some kind of great exception in this regard.

Off color jokes are fine in a locker room setting, but a lot of what I've read so far in this report is taking it too far. The fact that Incognito and the others only acted this way to people they knew wouldn't react violently, just makes them bigger pieces of shit.

Where exactly do you draw that line? How much casual racism and homophobia in these jokes is acceptable?